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Here’s the replay of my live chat from the University of Wyoming football team’s 20-17 loss at San Jose State in the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, California.

For more coverage from this game, see the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and log on to wyosports.net.

Wyoming wraps up its regular season Saturday at San Jose State at 3 p.m. MT. The game will be carried online on ESPN3.

Here is my No. 1 key for the Cowboys:

Nameless opponent: Wyoming will play another game — a bowl game — no matter the outcome of today’s contest. San Jose State has struggled mightily all season. This has all the makings of a letdown for the Cowboys, unless they come out and play well from the start. Nothing takes the air out of the sails of a struggling team than building an early lead and not letting up. The longer UW lets San Jose State think it can win this game, the more dangerous things get. The Cowboys need to ignore the record and numbers of their opponent and come out like this was a nameless opponent and execute well in all three phases.

My Mountain West football power rankings heading into this week’s games.

No. 25 Boise State (9-2 overall, 7-0 MW): The Broncos are Mountain Division champs after they recorded their seventh straight victory — a home win over Air Force. Across the board, Boise State is clicking on all cylinders. It will get to know Fresno State well as it plays there this week in the regular-season finale, and again the following week in the MW Championship Game.

2. Fresno State (8-3, 6-1): Clinched the West Division title with a gritty 13-7 road win at Wyoming last week. The Bulldogs are very good defensively, and underrated on offense. They also are built and coached to be good for quite some time.

3. San Diego State (9-2, 5-2): Senior running back Rashaad Penny is a beat — as a runner and returning punts and kicks. The Aztecs are rolling again after a mid-season slump. Penny should be getting some Heisman Trophy consideration.

A disappointing loss, and to me, kind of an odd and stale atmosphere in Wyoming’s home finale — a 13-7 setback to Fresno State.

First, the crowd of 15,440 did what it could, but with poor weather Friday and into Saturday morning that kept many fans away because of road closures.Creating any sort of atmosphere was tough. But I will credit the fans who made it.

Second, as UW introduced its seniors prior to the game, junior quarterback Josh Allen was among them. That said to me that Allen won’t come back next season and will give pro football a try. Don’t think this was surprising news to most, but it put some finality to that decision, don’t you think? Allen didn’t play due to his injured right shoulder and didn’t do any postgame interviews.

The final home game for Wyoming is at noon Saturday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium against Fresno State. The game will be televised by AT&T SportsNet (used to be ROOT Sports).

Here is my No. 1 key to the game for the Cowboys:

Josh Allen

Be diverse offensively: On paper, Wyoming is going up against one of the best defenses in the country in Fresno State. The Cowboys need to be creative in what they do offensively. That doesn’t mean come out with a lot of trick plays, or get away from its identity offensively. But depending on the health status of junior quarterback Josh Allen, offensive coordinator Brent Vigen needs to come up with a plan that keeps Fresno State’s defense on its heels. Establishing the run would be a good start, which is key for any game UW plays. Even if Allen plays, limiting the hits he takes is crucial. If junior backup Nick Smith starts or plays, he must be put in situations where he can be successful. Ultimately, UW’s other play-makers, whether that be receivers, running backs or tight ends, must make more plays. Would a trick play or two, or even some different looks or formations work? Perhaps, but the Cowboys also can’t completely reinvent the wheel. There needs to be a balance between the two.

Here’s the replay of my weekly live chat on University of Wyoming sports on Thursday, Nov. 16.

A lot of talk about UW football, and the health status of junior quarterback Josh Allen, as the Cowboys play their final home regular-season game Saturday against Fresno State. There also was a good amount of UW men’s basketball conversation as the 2-0 Cowboys prepare to play in the Cayman Islands Classic Monday through Wednesday of next week.

For more UW sports coverage, see the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and log on to wyosports.net.

Here are my Mountain West football power rankings heading into this week’s games.

1. Boise State (8-2 overall, 6-0 MW): The Broncos were down big and gave up 35 first-half points at Colorado State, but found a way to rally for an overtime victory in one of the more entertaining games in the country this year. The winning streak is now six, and Boise State is pretty much a lock to be the Mountain Division champs.

2. San Diego State (8-2, 4-2): No game for the Aztecs last week, and its finishes up the regular-season with two home games, starting Saturday against two-win Nevada. One has to wonder what could have been had it not been for back-to-back home losses to Boise State and Fresno State last month.

3. Wyoming (7-3, 5-1): It was a little difficult putting the Cowboys this high after junior quarterback Josh Allen left last week’s Air Force game with some sort of right arm injury. Not knowing Allen’s status moving forward makes the Cowboys a different team, but the defense continues to shine — now with 27 turnovers forced.

A road conference win over a rival, solidifying a spot in this year’s bowl picture and keeping hopes alive for a division title within the conference.

Wyoming accomplished all that with its 28-14 victory at Air Force Saturday night. But the loss of junior starting quarterback Josh Allen to some sort of right arm injury, which occurred late in the first half, put a damper on all that.

That was the topic of my column from there game, which you can click on here:

Fourth-year UW coach Craig Bohl said he would know more after Sunday, and hopefully Monday on Allen’s injury when he meets with the media again. Bohl didn’t say much after the game, but here is what he did say.